An outdated Supreme Court decision from 1950 established the Feres Doctrine, which prevents active duty military from holding the government accountable for injuries sustained during service, including medical malpractice. The bipartisan bill would restore the right of servicemembers to hold the U.S. Government accountable for non-service-related injuries including surgical items left inside patients, failure to diagnosis advanced cancer, and maternal death following childbirth. This is a right available to all U.S. citizens, except active duty military.

“Feres has allowed the military medical system to remain above legal accountability for far too long,” said Linda Lipsen, CEO of the American Association for Justice. “Military health care providers have been immunized by Feres. This has led to our current military health care system’s sky-high rates of preventable medical errors and no accountability when those errors kill or injure servicemembers. Our servicemembers deserve better.”

The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, chaired by Representative Jackie Speier, held on a hearing on this topic today titled “Feres Doctrine – A Policy in Need of Reform?” Sfc. Richard Stakyskal testified before the subcommittee, along with legal experts and other military victims of medical malpractice.

“AAJ is proud to stand with active duty military members and the bipartisan group of sponsors who are fighting for justice and accountability for those who give so much to our country. We urge Congress to pass this legislation and protect our servicemembers’ rights,” concluded Lipsen.

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The American Association for Justice works to preserve the constitutional right to trial by jury and to make sure people have a fair chance to receive justice through the legal system when they are injured by the negligence or misconduct of others—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations. Visit http://www.justice.org.